Diversion program could save defendant time

By MELINDA WILLIAMS

melinda@southwesttimes.com

If a Dublin man can qualify to participate in a state diversion program, the amount of time he receives for a drug conviction will be reduced.

Under an agreement with the prosecution, Akeem Lomar Metz recently pleaded guilty to selling drugs to a confidential informant in October 2011. Two other charges of distribution of cocaine and distribution of Naproxen were not prosecuted.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Skip Schwab said the informant went to Metz’s home on Lovell Drive in Dublin to purchase a gram of crack cocaine. The informant paid $100 and received what a laboratory determined to be .43 grams of crack cocaine.

Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Marcus Long Jr. sentenced him to five years in prison. If Metz can attend and complete the alternative sentencing diversion program, the full sentence will be suspended and he will be placed on one year of intensive probation and four years of supervised probation.

If not, Metz will have to serve seven months in jail and be placed on 10 years probation upon release from custody.

Since he is working and has a child to support, Metz was allowed to remain free on bond pending a Sept. 6 review to determine whether he qualifies for diversion.